Cutting device



@1123,1940.` @GARDNER 2,198,266

CUTTING DEVICE Filed May 7; 1957 32 7 wagon 58 f5 se x3? lab ,I5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

PatentedApr. 23,1940 ,Y

U1NITEDSTAT|1S PATENT OFFICE j f A 2,198,266 i f CUTTING DEvroE m Cummings Gardner, Los. Angeles, Calif., assignor to Rotomotor Corporation, Washington, D. 0.a a corporation of jlgelaware l i i i Application May 7, 193'7,` Serial No.` 141,201

5 Claims.

5" provide apparatus embodying novel `cutting.

means comprising a power driven rotary element. Another object of` this invention` is to provide a power driven shaver` of the rotarytype which is so constructed as to insureclose'shaves 1 over along period of use without necessity for sharpening. l

A further object ofthis invention is to provide novel cutting apparatus of the rotary type which maybe adjusted to the texture or quality `of the u substance to be cut. n

'Another object is to provide a novel cutting device which, when employed for shaving, for example, may be adjusted to suit the desire vof the user for a coarse or close shave or cut.

Still another object is `to provide anovel cutting `device which comprises only a `small number of l parts, which may be inexpensivelymanuiactured and` which may be readily and quickly assembled i and disassembled for" cleaning or repair.

i A further object is to provide novel cutting means which are so` constructed ,t that the coop- `erating elements thereof need not be `machined to extremely low tolerances. g

A further object is to provide a shaving device of the rotary cutter type embodying `cutting l means which do not pull the hair.

t The above and further objects and novel features of the invention willmore fully appear from the following detailed description` whenthe same u is read in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood, howl ever, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended to define the l limits of the invention, reference being primarily had `for this latter purpose to the appended claims. l

In the drawing, wherein like reference charact ters refer to like parts throughout the several views, i 46 Fig. 1 is a side scale, illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale and partly in section, showing one form oi adapter and rotary cutter which may be employed incarrying out this invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the cutting head and adapter viewed from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 2;

elevation approximately to full` Fig. 4 is a top plan view with parts broken away of `the mechanism shown inFig. 3; u Fig. 5 is an enlarged end elevation oI- the cutting head showing the rotary cutting member associated therewith; 5 Fig. 6 is anisometric view ofloneform of comb member which may` be employed in the cutting head; and, Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional View, the secon `being taken substantially on line 1-1 `of One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, `by way of example, in the form of `a shaving device comprising power means, such" as an electricmotor, for driving a. rotatable cutting element which is associated with a two-part cutting head.` One part of said head constitutes a blade member and is provided `with a hollow ground cutting edge adapted to `cooperate with said cutting element. VThe other `or slotted part of said headconstitutes a comb member and is movably mounted with respect` to said blade member. Resilient means associated with said comb member are effective to maintain the rotary cutting element and the blade member in yielding contact with one another and means are` provided for adjusting the position of` said comb member relative to said blade member to thereby compensate for wearof the cutting surfaces and to determine the closenessof the shave ,to be obtained.

`In the form illustrated in Fig. 1, the power means are constituted by an electric motor of the usualtype now used with reciprocating power Shavers, said motor being enclosed in a housing 9 which is shaped to constitute a handle. A socket having a pair of contacts I0 which are electrically connected tosaid motor is provided in handle 9 for the reception of a contact plug (not shown) that may be connected through suitable leads to a source of electric energy `for energizing the mo- 10 tor. Conventional control means whereby the user is enabled to start or `arrest rotation'of the motor at will are provided and, in the form shown, include asmall knurled wheel Il which is attached to the main driving shaft of the motor `'and is effective to control suitable switch means in the motor field. Since motors of the above type and controlmeans therefor are old and Well known in the art, and, since the same do not, per se, constitute any part of the present invention, further detailed description thereof believed to be unnecessary.

Any suitable means may be `provided for supporting and hqusingthe novel cutting means ing 'a coupling member'20 comprehended by the invention in a desirable position relative to handle 9 whereby the user is enabled to conveniently hold the cutting parts in operative contact with the surface to be shaved. In the form shown; said supporting means are constituted by an adapter or support I2 which preferably includes a one-piece casting comprising a base portion having a curved passage I3 therethrough and an angularly extending tongue portion I2a which is constructed to support a cutting head I4, in a manner to be more ,fully described hereinafter. The base of adapter I2 is shaped to nt into a groovebetween the extending portions 9a of handle 9 and is removablysecured to the latter by means of a set screw I5. VA

recess is preferably provided in the base of adapter I2 for the reception of a plate I6 which is secured in position therein by means of screws I1, said plate being provided with a bore I8 that registers with passage I3. v

Means are provided for operatively connecting vthe shaft of the motor to a rotatable cutting element I9 which is preferably disposed at an angle of about 45 to said shaft and adapted to coact with a cutting head vI4 in a manner to appear hereafter. As illustrated, said connecting means are constituted by a yieldable coupling vcomprisand a coil spring 2|. Said coupling member extends through vopening I8 in plate I6 and it is provided with a. countersunk bore 22, the inner portion `of which is ec- ,Y centric with respect to the axisl of rotation thereof for telescopically receiving an eccentric portion on the end offthe motor shaft (not shown). Spring 2l forms a yielding and frictional driving connection between member 20 and cutter I9, the

same having coils adjacent each end thereof whichare sufciently small to torsionally grip the inner end fof said cutter and the inner end of member 29, the latter of which extends through plate openingla into passage I3. y n

Rotating cutter I9'is`preferably of Ythe spiral type and may have either one or a plurality of `helical flutes or yfurrows;4 In the form illustrated, said cutter lis of the single pitch type having a single helical groove I9a. Thel'forward edge I9b of the land ofcutter I9 'is sharpened to form a cutting edge which cooperates in a manner to appear hereafter with cutting head I4. Cutter. I9 constitutes in effect a left-hand screw of reamer so that when the same isV rotated in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) the cut hair will be carried to the outer end thereof by the screw action vof the cutter and dischargedl from head I4. The greater portion of cut hair will be discharged, however, through lower aperture I4a between the two `cooperating members of the cutting head which will be hereinafter described.

Novel means constituting a cutting head are provided in combination with rotary cutter I9, whereby either a close or a coarse shave may be obtained according. to the desire of the user and whereby both coarse and line texture hair may ing thereof.

26. Member I4 is held in groove I2b by means of a lip 26a which engages the upper inner end thereof and a yielding retaining lip or latch 21a speci; to Ablade member 23 and is yieldingiy held in operative position relativeto said blade member and cutter I9, whereyv a satisfactory cutting action is assured at all times irrespective of wear of the parts or the texture oi the hair. In the illustrated embodiment, novel means are provided for mounting member 24, said means including a bolt 21 which extends through enlarged, transverse openings 29 and 29 formed in member 23, adjacentthe center thereof, and in a depending lug 39 on member 24, respectively. 'I'he latter member is pivotally secured to one end of bolt 21k by means of a pivot pin 3| which loosely lextends through said bolt and into a bore 39a in Walls of the enlarged Acup-like portion of a small lever 33 which, in turn, engages the outer face of blade member 23. Said bolt is thus anchored by nut 32 for universal movement relative to member 23. f

In order that the effective length'of bolt 21 may be readily varied by the user for effecting anfadjustment of the cutting parts, lever 33 is provided with an ear 33a which engages a at side of hexagonal nut 32. Thus, when lever 33 is moved angularly, nut 32 is threaded onto or off bolt 21, which is held against rotation by pivot pin 3l, thereby decreasing or increasing the distance between said nut and pivot 3l.' The outer end of lever 33 has ahead portion adapted to engage depressions 34 in the side of member 23,

Y whereby the same'is heldin adjusted position.

Yielding means constituted, in the illustrated embodiment, by coil springs 35, 35 are interposed betweenblademember 23 and a pair of arms 36 which are formed integrally with and extend downwardly from the ends of comb member 24. Said springs are thus'effective to pivot member 24 in a counter-'clockwise direction about pivot 3l and to hold saidpivot toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 5. Member 23 and arms 36, 38 havealined recesses 31 and 38, respectively, for positioning springs 35, 35. 1

In order to provide a cutting edge or blade which is adapted to cooperate with cutter I9 and Y to provide means for guiding the whiskers or hair to theblade and holding the same in position for cutting, an arcuate groove is milled in each of the members 23 and 24 adjacentV the tops thereof to thereby form a; somewhat elliptical bore 39 in which cutter I9 may operate. The outer surfaces of members 23 and 24 are rounded as at 23h and 24h to thereby minimize the surface which must contact theface and to form thin edges 40 and 4I, the former of which constitutes the blade or cutting edge of member 23.

To insure line contact betweeny blade 40 and cutter I9 during a long period of use, groove 42 is so formed that the distance. between points 40 and 43, i. e., the smallest diameter of bore 39,

is somewhat lessthan .the diameter of cutter I9,

thereby obviatingy surface contact between the walls of said groove and the cutter. -Byreason of the curvature of the walls of groove 42, blade 49 is in effect hollow ground so that the sharpness thereof and the line contact between the 1 aisance same and cutter vIl are not materially airected by wlr A .1 i l i `The yieldingmeans comprising springs 2l interposed between the blade and comb members 23 and 24, respectively, as above described, produces a` resilient engagement between the said i `members and cutter I9 such that upon the adjustment oi' the lposition of the comb member which will vary the aperturelbetween the said members the position or the cutter with respect tothe said tersection of a tangent to the circle described by a pointoi the `rotatingcutting edge I9bfwith a .tangent to the cross section oi' groove `42,`both lines being tangent at the point of contact ofthe rotating cutting edge i I9b and the ilxed cutting edge 40 and both inthe plane perpendicular to the axis of the said cutter. i

Althoughv the edge 4I on member 24 may be provided with slots milled at an acute angle to the axis of bore 39 and Ahave sharp edges to` coact with the cutting edge I9b of cutter I5, the same,.in the form shown, has a plurality of slots 44 milled at right an'gles to the axis of said bore. Member 24 thus constitutes a comb which is eective to guide the whiskers and hold the same in cutting position between cutting edges I9b and 40. The groove 45 in member 24 is preferably oi substantially the same size and shape as arcuate groove 42, but, it desired, the radius of curvature of wall 4G may be the same astheradius of cutter I9. As shown, comb member 24 has line engagement with therotary cutter at 4I and 41 and is effective through springs 35 to yieldingly urge the cutter into engagement with blade 40.

In operation, the motor may be energized by connecting the same to a source of energy through a suitable extension (not shown) plugged in at I0 and then actuating switch mem-` -ber I3. Said motor is effective to rotatably drive cutter Ilthrough the yielding coupling 20, 2| in the direction of the arrow, whereby cutting edges y lsb and 40 coact to cut the hair 'brought ,be-

i tween' the same, the coaction of said edges being similar to that between the blades of a hollow Aground scissors or shears. Wear of the cutting edges is automatically and continuously compensated `for by the yielding action of springs 35 which urge said edges toward one another at all times. When a Whisker or hair comes between blade 40 and cutter I9b, the reaction between said blade and cuttercauses the lower edge of the latter to swing to the right, as viewed in Fig. 5, and this reaction in prior razors has, after slight wear o! the cutting edges, resulted in a pulling `0f the hair. This difllculty is obviated in the pr'esent device by exerting a yielding lateral pressure against cutter I9 at points 4I and 41. By making the lever arm between point 41 and pivot 3i smaller than the lever arm between said pivot and the point of application of force by springs 35, a substantial mechanical advantage ls obtained for overcoming the above-mentioned reactio thereby permitting the use of comparatively light springs and. hence, reducing the pressure by which the cutting edges are held together. The wear of said edges is accordingly reduced and because of decreased friction between said edges.l the motor is effective to rotate cutter I9 at a higher rate of speed. It will be noted that by reason of lthe universal movement of bolt 21 comb member 24 pivots about the axis of cutter I9, as a center, and that edges 4I and 41 accordingly remain in contact with the cutter at all time. The yielding means 3i are thus effective through comb 24 to hold cutter I8 in engagement with cutting edge 40, and the line contactbetween said edge and cutter is maintained at all times.

If itis desired to vary the compression oi' 4springs 35` and,` hence, the pressure with which cutter IS is held against` blade 40 in order to provide for cutting hairof diierent degrees o! coarseness or to adjust the razor fora close or coarse shave, this may be accomplished bymoving handle 33. Nut 32 is thus rotated relative to bolt 21 and is caused by the cam action of the coacting threads to 'moveaxially of said `bolt and increase or decrease the distance between pivot 3l and said nut, depending on the direction in which lever j33 ismclved.` f

There is thus provided a novel cutting device which may be used as a shaver and which will not pull the hair and is so constructed that it maybe adjusted to give a close or coarse shave or cut according to the desire of the `user and which will cut hair of varying texture with equal facility. The apparatus is of light weight and easily manipulated, and provides a quick shave without irritation to the skin. The cutting parts are so constructed and resiliently urged together that aline contact is maintained between the stationary and rotating blades so that the sharpness thereof is not materially aiect. by wear. Novel means are also pro'ided for varying the yielding engagement of said coacting'blades and for adjusting the same to give a close or coarse shave.

Although only one embodiment of the inven.

tion has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to `be expressly understood that the same is not limited thereto. shown, the comb member is adjustable about the cutter as an axis and the blade member is stationary; however, this construction may be reversed, with` the comb member fixed and the blade member adjustable. Also, the method of holding the comb to the blade member by means of a transverse bolt with a pivot therethrough may be varied to include any means whereby the angular position of the comb may be adjusted about the axis of the rotatable cutter while it resiliently `urges the said rotatable cutter against the stationary. blade. Various changes may also be made in the design and arrangement of parts illustrated, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art. For a definition of the limits of the invention, reference will be had primarily to the appended claims,

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a twopart cutting head comprising a blade member and` a comb member, a rotatable cutter interposed between said members and adapted to cooperate therewith, said comb member being For example, in the formbetween the cutting blade and said last-named u times.

means, and means for adjusting the force o! said yielding means; j

3. In apparatus of the class described, artwopart cutting head comprising a blade member and a comb member, the parts of said headhaving grooves of arcuate cross section adjacent the top surfaces thereof forming a bore therethrough and a cutting edge With one of said parts, a rotatable cutter in said bore, the arcuate cross section of the groove of the blade member being substantially semi-elliptical with a minor Aaxis smaller than the diameter of the said cutter, means flor mounting one of said cutting head pvartsV for movement relative to the other part, and means to yieldingly urge said cutter against the said blade member whereby contact between the cutter and the blade memberis maintained at all 4. Inapparatus of the class described, a twoaisance said cutting head, and a rotatable cutter in said bore in double line contact with each part of said head. said head having van opening therein below said cutter'to provide a discharge outlet for the cut substance.

l 5. In an apparatus of the' class described, a

two-part cutting headhaving an elliptical bore therethrough,'one of said parts having a cutting edge, and a rotatable cutter in said bore adapted to 'coact with said cutting edge for the cutting of bain/said elliptical bore having a minor axis shorter than the diameter of said cutter, one oi' said parts being cut away beneath the cutter to provide a discharge opening for the cut hairs.

cUMMrNGs GARDNER.. 

